Sixteen-year-old Evening Spiker lives an affluent life in San Francisco with her mother, EmmaRose, a successful geneticist and owner of Spiker Biotech. Sure, Evening misses her father who died mysteriously, but she’s never really questioned it. Much like how she’s never stopped to think how off it is that she’s never been sick. That is, until she’s struck by a car and is exposed to extensive injuries. Injuries that seem to be healing faster than physically possible.While recuperating in Spiker Biotech’s lush facilities, she meets Solo Plissken, a very attractive, if off-putting boy her age who spent his life at Spiker Biotech. Like Evening, he’s never questioned anything... until now. Solo drops hints to Evening that something isn’t right, and Emma-Rose may be behind it. Evening puts this out of her mind and begins her summer internship project: To simulate the creation of the perfect boy. With the help of Solo, Evening uncovers secrets so big they could change the world completely.

I love the concept for Eve & Adam and I think it has a lot of potential to be a great story. Assuming that is that I will be able to get past those ridiculous names. I mean, Evening? Ugh.

Incapable. Awkward. Artless.That’s what the other girls whisper behind her back. But sixteen year-old Adelice Lewys has a secret: she wants to fail.Gifted with the ability to weave time with matter, she’s exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in the world of Arras, being chosen as a Spinster is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary. It also means the power to embroider the very fabric of life. But if controlling what people eat, where they live and how many children they have is the price of having it all, Adelice isn’t interested.Not that her feelings matter, because she slipped and wove a moment at testing, and they’re coming for her—tonight.Now she has one hour to eat her mom’s overcooked pot roast. One hour to listen to her sister’s academy gossip and laugh at her Dad’s stupid jokes. One hour to pretend everything’s okay. And one hour to escape.Because once you become a Spinster, there’s no turning back.

Holy creativity. I'm not really sure what to make of Crewel and its strange premise; all I know is that I need to find out what it's about for myself and I can't wait!

In a post-apocalyptic world controlled by alien invaders, two teens and a young girl with mysterious powers embark on a dangerous journey. What they find will change everything...Earth has been conquered. An extraterrestrial race known as The Assembly has abducted the adult population, leaving the planet’s youth to fend for themselves. In this treacherous landscape, Holt, a bounty hunter, is transporting his prisoner Mira when they discover Zoey, a young girl with powerful abilities who could be the key to stopping The Assembly. As they make their way to the cavernous metropolis of Midnight City, the trio must contend with freedom fighters, mutants, otherworldly artifacts, pirates, feuding alien armies, and perhaps most perilous of all: Holt and Mira’s growing attraction to each other.

Aliens aren't super popular in YA, which is a shame because I feel like there's a lot of untapped potential in this sub-genre. Midnight City sounds like it will be the perfect thing to satisfy my wish.

Wren MacAvoy works as a coal miner for a domed city that was constructed in the mid-nineteenth century to protect the royal blood line of England when astronomers spotted a comet on a collision course with Earth. Humanity would be saved by the most groundbreaking technology of the time. But after nearly 200 years of life beneath the dome, society has become complacent and the coal is running out. Plus there are those who wonder, is there life outside the dome or is the world still consumed by fire? When one of Wren's friends escapes the confines of the dome, he is burned alive and put on display as a warning to those seeking to disrupt the dome’s way of life. But Alex’s final words are haunting. “The sky is blue.” What happens next is a whirlwind of adventure, romance, conspiracy and the struggle to stay alive in a world where nothing is as it seems. Wren unwittingly becomes a catalyst for a revolution that destroys the dome and the only way to survive might be to embrace what the entire society has feared their entire existence.

Ooh, okay I love these types of dystopians, like Ashes of Twilight, in which a population has been hermit-ed away from the rest of the world for years, a la Across the Universe, because it always seems to lead to some interesting situations.

How about you? Are you waiting on any of these Macmillan Fall 2012 reads? Are there any upcoming books from the Macmillan Fall 2012 Catalog that I didn't include here that you feel I should add to my list?

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Kami Glass loves someone she’s never met . . . a boy she’s talked to in her head ever since she was born. She wasn’t silent about her imaginary friend during her childhood, and is thus a bit of an outsider in her sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Still, Kami hasn’t suffered too much from not fitting in. She has a best friend, runs the school newspaper, and is only occasionally caught talking to herself. Her life is in order, just the way she likes it, despite the voice in her head.But all that changes when the Lynburns return.The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown—in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the-Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him?

In short: Sarah Rees Brennan's trademark wit is in full blown hilarity in Unspoken, though her frenzied writing and pacing could have benefited from some clarity.

I can't believe it's taken me so long to read a Sarah Rees Brennan book. You see, back in the day when all I ever read was Harry Potter, over and over again, and Harry Potter fanfiction, Sarah was one of my favourite fanfic authors. I remember she had a real talent at writing memorable dialogue and humour in the bucketloads. And she has absolutely proven that she continues to maintain this skill at entertaining her readers with her wit in Unspoken.

Unspoken has a large cast of completely loveable and unique characters, at the centre of which is Kami Glass, clever detective-in-training and a bit of a social outcast on account of her Asian heritage and the voice that she converses with in her head. When the mysterious Lynburn family moves back into town, Kami and her brilliant friends put on their investigative caps to sleuth out some answers, Scooby Gang-style.

I mentioned that Sarah Rees Brennan has a special proficiency with humour, and this trademark wit of hers is present in abundance in Unspoken. That she is able to infuse every event in the story and multiple lines of dialogue with absolute hilarity is evidence that she is one funny lady. I've always thought that humour is tough to get right in writing so the fact that Sarah Rees Brennan manages it throughout the entirety of Unspoken is impressive indeed and also made for a wholly enjoyable read.

I think if there was one thing that didn't work for me in Unspoken, it would be the frenetic plot and pacing that often left me either confused or disbelieving of a character's motives or of a plot event. I would have preferred more clarity in the writing of certain scenes as the unfortunate frenzied writing and pacing took away from the significance of these scenes and surprise reveals that should've packed a punch fell flat.

Overall though, Unspoken is an entertaining and hilarious read with memorable and loveable characters. And it's my love for the characters that has me invested in this series, The Lynburn Legacy, and I look forward to continuing on with the story. I also vow to read Sarah Rees Brennan's previous books because she's freaking brilliant and I love her. And I think you'll love her, too!

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

The master puppeteer, Gaspare Grisini, is so expert at manipulating his stringed puppets that they appear alive. Clara Wintermute, the only child of a wealthy doctor, is spellbound by Grisini’s act and invites him to entertain at her birthday party. Seeing his chance to make a fortune, Grisini accepts and makes a splendidly gaudy entrance with caravan, puppets, and his two orphaned assistants.Lizzie Rose and Parsefall are dazzled by the Wintermute home. Clara seems to have everything they lack — adoring parents, warmth, and plenty to eat. In fact, Clara’s life is shadowed by grief, guilt, and secrets. When Clara vanishes that night, suspicion of kidnapping falls upon the puppeteer and, by association, Lizzie Rose and Parsefall.As they seek to puzzle out Clara’s whereabouts, Lizzie and Parse uncover Grisini’s criminal past and wake up to his evil intentions. Fleeing London, they find themselves caught in a trap set by Grisini’s ancient rival, a witch with a deadly inheritance to shed before it’s too late.

In short:Splendors and Glooms showcases Laura Amy Schlitz's masterful storytelling and ability to transport the reader to her fully realized setting.

Splendors and Glooms is a most apt title for this book, a Victorian Era fantasy set in dank and gloomy London featuring bewitching and splendid marionette theatre shows. Splendors and Glooms follows orphans Lizzie Rose and Parsefall, and rich girl Clara Wintermute, as they are manipulated and used by two sinister magicians caught up in an ancient feud, indeed as though they are the puppets themselves. Though it is labeled as Middle Grade, there's a very dark and disturbing undertone to this Gothic mystery that may be more suitable to a more mature readership.

Splendors and Glooms features a large cast of varied characters, all exceedingly well developed and distinct. I was so impressed at how quickly I grew so fond of the three main characters: Prim and lady-like Lizzie Rose, blunt and unabashed Parsefall, and tragic and guilt-ridden Clara - these are some of the most fully realized characters I've read this year. And it's not just the main cast of characters; the side characters are remarkably complex and interesting as well. The witch and the puppeteer Grisini and their history, especially, were fantastically fascinating additions to the story.

The most brilliant part of Splendors and Glooms though is Laura Amy Schlitz's incredible talent at transporting the reader into the setting, utterly and completely. Never have I read a book with a Victorian London setting that was so rich and masterfully described. And it was also written very much in the mode of Dickens' era literature. Laura Amy Schlitz has written a book that totally could've been an actual book in Victorian times and that is not an easy feat to accomplish. She's either a consummately skilled writer or a time traveller from Victorian London. I'm betting time traveller.

Though I think some people may find the pacing of Splendors and Glooms to be a bit slow, I personally was constantly invested in the story and the characters and was held entranced by the realistic setting and the skilful writing. And... it's a standalone, guys! With an ending that I loved, too. Splendors and Glooms will be published August 28, 2012. I highly recommend it.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan—the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.

In short: Though Defiance by C.J. Redwine was missing certain aspects that kept it from being truly amazing, it was still an exciting and enjoyable read.

As I've already mentioned, I've been loving this recent influx of books in the historical high fantasy genre - all seemingly with kick ass heroines who know how to wield a weapon - and so I was very excited to pick up Defiance. Except Defiance wasn't quite what I had been expecting: it's actually a fantasy-dystopian set in a world where fossil fuels are becoming depleted and while looking for more, humans accidentally stumble upon a dragon-serpent-monster-thing from the depths of the Earth. A totalitarian leader controls the people who live inside his city's walls in exchange for protection from the monster. Though I really wish the world building in Defiance would have been more fleshed out as I was left with a ton of questions, I do think the premise was interesting and exciting.

The strength of Defiance comes from C.J. Redwine's beautiful and gripping writing, especially with respect to scenes of grief. Emotions aren't just glossed over, but fully realized and explored in her characters in these scenes, and I really appreciated that the time was taken to do so. Defiance is written effectively as a dual narrative, with love interests Rachel and Logan getting equal page time. Rachel and Logan were both likeable characters in their own way - Rachel with her stubborn fierceness and Logan with his logical and steadfast demeanour - and I thought they were perfectly compatible and their romance was nice and sweet.

Still, likeable characters and a nice romance doesn't exactly translate to amazing and memorable, and therein lies my biggest fault with Defiance. I was missing that "Wow Factor" that would have really elevated Defiance from being a good read to an absolutely fantastic one. The characters were strong and enjoyable, but were lacking a certain specialness that would have set them apart and made them truly memorable in my mind. The romance was awfully sweet and nice, which I love, but because it developed quite early on and was pretty predictable, it was lacking that romantic tension that makes the chemistry sizzle off the page. The premise was intriguing for sure, but the world building needed to be more developed to be truly impressive.

Overall, I really did like Defiance and I think this first book sets up great potential for the series at large. C.J. Redwine is a talented writer and I look forward to reading more from her. Though parts of Defiance were missing that je ne sais quoi, it was still an exciting story and one that I look forward to continuing in the sequels still to come.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. And a strange collection of very curious photographs. It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children who once lived here - one of whom was his own grandfather - were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a desolate island for good reason. And somehow - impossible though it seems - they may still be alive.

In short: I loved the eeriness of the tone and the writing in the first part of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, but was remiss when the second half was nothing like the first.

The moment I saw this book - the title, the cover, the blurb, the trailer - I knew I needed to read it. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children seemed unlike any YA book I had ever read or heard of and I was immediately eager to read such a unique and odd-sounding book. You can't deny that the packaging of Miss Peregrine's - with the inclusion of the creepy, old, black and white pictures - makes it intriguing as heck and though it was perhaps a bit gimmicky, I can't deny that the images were a major part of my interest in reading it.

And indeed, I felt like the old pictures complimented the story really well - at least, in the first part of the novel - and added to the overall dark tone. The pictures don't do all the work though: Ransom Riggs is a superb writer and he infuses the story with an overarching gloomy atmosphere that really adds to the creepiness of the plot. I really liked the way Jacob was written as well. Though not everyone will enjoy his sardonic tone and his teen angst, I felt as though there was a realism to him that I really appreciated.

It was the second half of Miss Peregrine's that I liked less and where it felt like the tone does a complete one-eighty. What started out as a dark and eerie story turns into a lighter, quirkier one. It's not that the second half was bad, it's just that I wanted the creepy gothic horror that was promised to me by the packaging and what I ended up with was a sort of superhero adventure story. And even though I liked the concept of the time loop and the mythology and the children as quirky superheroes, it was not what I was expecting and the change was a bit jarring. Furthermore, the inclusion of the old pictures, which were utilized so well in the beginning, became a bit forced and arbitrary in the second half, much to my dismay.

Overall, I would still recommend Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children to anyone looking for a creepy-ish read with a cool concept and a male protagonist - just keep in mind that what you might have been expecting from the packaging isn't necessarily the case.

She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets.

She’s wrong.

In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?

Oh, boy - I'm definitely excited for The Evolution of Mara Dyer, the sequel to the incredibly trippy and compelling The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. Especially with that killer cliffhanger ending! Where will the story go from there?

When Elliot finds herself dead for the third time, she knows she must have messed up, big-time. She doesn’t remember how she landed in the afterlife again, but she knows this is her last chance to get things right.Elliot just wants to move on, but first she will be forced to face her past and delve into the painful memories she’d rather keep buried. Memories of people she’s hurt, people she’s betrayed…and people she’s killed.As she pieces together the secrets and mistakes of her past, Elliot must find a way to earn the forgiveness of the person she’s hurt most, and reveal the truth about herself to the two boys she loves…even if it means losing them both forever.

Touching the Surface sounds like it could be a very interesting paranormal read. What exactly is going on with Elliot that she has died three times and only now won't get the chance to live again? I'm curious to find out!

It seemed so simple: Defeat the Tonton, rescue her kidnapped brother, Lugh, and then order would be restored to Saba’s world. Simplicity, however, has proved to be elusive. Now, Saba and her family travel west, headed for a better life and a longed-for reunion with Jack. But the fight for Lugh’s freedom has unleashed a new power in the dust lands, and a formidable new enemy is on the rise.What is the truth about Jack? And how far will Saba go to get what she wants? In this much-anticipated follow-up to the riveting Blood Red Road, a fierce heroine finds herself at the crossroads of danger and destiny, betrayal and passion.

I am late to the game with the hype surrounding this series - having only just read Blood Red Road a couple months ago - but I was made an instant and lifelong fan of the book and Moira Young. It is seriously that good. I absolutely cannot wait to read the sequel, Rebel Heart!

Megan never meant to hurt her best friend, Anna. She made a mistake, and she’s spent all year trying to regain Anna’s trust. So when Anna invites her to spend the summer on her uncle’s farm, Megan is excited…and relieved. The past is finally behind them.On the farm, Anna quickly falls for Jordan, a rugged summer-hand. Megan and Jordan have their own spark, but Megan’s betrayed Anna once before and she’s not about to do it again.Still, the more time that Megan and Jordan spend together, the harder it is to deny their chemistry. But Anna doesn’t like to be ignored—and she doesn’t forgive and forget. What started out as the perfect summer is about to take a very dark turn....

Love triangles never end well, but the love triangle in Never Let You Go sounds absolutely dangerous. I'm hoping this one will be a dark and creepy thriller!

How about you? Are you waiting on any of these Simon & Schuster Fall 2012 reads? Are there any upcoming books from the Simon & Schuster Fall 2012 Catalog that I didn't include here that you feel I should add to my list?

Delilah is a bit of a loner who prefers spending her time in the school library with her head in a book—one book in particular. Between the Lines may be a fairy tale, but it feels real. Prince Oliver is brave, adventurous, and loving. He really speaks to Delilah.And then one day Oliver actually speaks to her. Turns out, Oliver is more than a one-dimensional storybook prince. He’s a restless teen who feels trapped by his literary existence and hates that his entire life is predetermined. He’s sure there’s more for him out there in the real world, and Delilah might just be his key to freedom.Delilah and Oliver work together to attempt to get Oliver out of his book, a challenging task that forces them to examine their perceptions of fate, the world, and their places in it. And as their attraction to each other grows along the way, a romance blossoms that is anything but a fairy tale.

In short:Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer was a cute read, but ultimately too fluffy and lacking in substance for my taste.

Between the Lines was billed as Jodi Picoult's YA debut. And yet - except for the cover and the age of the protagonist - everything about this book read more like Middle Grade. The plot, the illustrations included in the text, the writing - all read very young. And that's fine - it's just not what I was expecting, nor is it really the type of Middle Grade fiction that I tend to enjoy. Some parts of Between the Lines were cute... but quite simply, this just wasn't the book for me.

I loved the concept of finding out that your favourite story is real and getting sucked into the pages, getting to meet the characters that you already know so well, reliving the scenes that you know by heart. And I really liked the imagery of the text of the book floating in the sky and the characters being whipped into place to act for their scene as the pages were turned. All very neat ideas that were executed well - and I credit Jodi Picoult's sixteen-year-old daughter, Samantha van Leer, for coming up with them.

Unfortunately, I would've appreciated the concept a lot more if the story hadn't been so fluffy and if the writing had been a bit more sophisticated. I am also split on the illustrations - some were quite nice, clearly expertly drawn, and could only be even more beautiful in colour in the finished copy of Between the Lines, compared to my ARC copy. Other little pictures that were included among the text seemed entirely random and unnecessary, however:

An example of the illustrations in Between The Lines (ARC)

It's hard to criticize a book that just isn't your thing. Certainly, my biggest problem with Between the Lines - that it was too fluffy and young - might be the very same thing that some people would love about it. I have to say though that the ending was one of the most ridiculous things I have ever read, completely indefensible. This was my first exposure to Jodi Picoult, which is unfortunate because I know a lot of people love her books, so I would like to read something else of hers sometime to change my mind. I would recommend Between the Lines to younger MG readers who like cutesy Princess-type fluff stories.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Finally! Finally an author appearance event is actually happening in my city! All these times I've had to endure whenever someone posted about author event signings in their town, all the cool people they met, all the awesome books they got signed, yada yada yada, and I just had to sit here behind my computer, quietly seething away in jealousy - no more!

The Smart Chicks Kick It Tour is coming to the Chapters Westside in Edmonton on September 13, 2012 and - if I may take a moment to boast - it's going to be AWESOME. Why? Because check out the lineup: Kelley Armstrong (Darkest Powers, Darkest Rising), Melissa Marr (Wicked Lovely, Carnival of Souls), Ally Condie (Matched), Beth Revis (Across the Universe), Veronica Roth (Divergent), Margaret Stohl (Beautiful Creatures), and Charles de Lint (who, as far as I know, has written a book - Under My Skin - that neither contains a female protagonist, nor is it written by a Smart Chick... but I'll still be happy to meet him!).

It's also my birthday today (the day after Harry and Jo's!), so what better occasion to have a giveaway? I will be giving away one Smart Chicks Tour book of your choice. The winner can pick any book from any of the authors above and I will purchase that book for them and get it signed.

Rules1. To enter,fill out the Rafflecopter form below2. Open Internationally3. Ends August 31 at 11:59 PM EST5. Entrants must be at least 13 years old6. The winner will be announced on the blog and will have 48 hours to respond with their address.